1. Key Brand and Regional Accomplishments
GLOBAL Recognized as one of the world’s 100 most Partnered with Google to provide architects and designers 3-D
models of Whirlpool and Gladiator brand products within the
innovative companies by Business Week magazine and
Google SketchUp 3-D design and visualization tool.
the Boston Consulting Group.
EUROPE Honored with the 2005 Benefactor of the Year
Named to the Ocean Tomo 300 Patent Index, the first equity
award for our work with Habitat for Humanity International in
index based on the value of corporate intellectual property.
Poland. Whirlpool employees have been active in builds in the
Named 2006 Product Innovation Leader by Innovate Forum,
cities of Gliwice, Poznan and Gdansk.
a global media brand dedicated to the business value of
Recognized as a top corporate philanthropist 2006 by U.S.
innovative technologies and processes.
Ambassador to the Czech Republic for “Children Act of the
Included in the 2006/2007 Dow Jones Sustainability World,
Year,” a project supporting children across the country.
FTSE4Good and KLD Domini Social 400 Indexes, three of the
Received the International Forum Design Award for In.Home,
world’s most comprehensive reviews of sustainable business
a concept that takes appliances to new locations in the home
practices.
and invents ways in which they can interact as a system
NORTH AMERICA Began production at a new front-load
rather than as stand-alone appliances.
clothes washer plant and a refrigeration plant in Mexico.
Genius built-in microwave was awarded the French Design
Expanded production of a bottom-mount freezer refrigerator
Institute’s Janus Design Award, the company’s third since
plant in the United States.
2002.
Named one of the 100 best corporate citizens by Business
Whirlpool U.K.’s Titanium product range was named winner
Ethics magazine for the seventh consecutive year.
of the Silver prize in the Appliance Innovation of the Year
category by House Beautiful.
Received the National Award for Ethics & Values from the
Confederación de Cámaras Industriales de los Estados Unidos
LATIN AMERICA Elected one of 150 Best Companies
Mexicanos.
to Work For in Brazil for the 10th straight year by Exame/
Voce S.A. Guidebook.
Launched the Building Blocks program to recognize an
outstanding U.S. Habitat for Humanity affiliate and its
Named Most Admired Company in the home appliances
relationship with its local community by holding a week-long
segment in Brazil for the ninth consecutive year by Carta
build in the affiliate’s community. The program kicked off in
Capital magazine and TNS InterScience.
Nashville, Tennessee, uniting 100 local residents with 100
Whirlpool Brazil won Modern Consumer magazine’s Excellence
Whirlpool employees and 100 volunteers from Habitat
in Client Service Prize 2006 in the home appliance category.
affiliates to build 10 homes on one block.
The award recognizes customer relationship excellence.
Raised more than $4 million for the Susan G. Komen Breast
Embraco subsidiary was named one of the 100 Top
Cancer Foundation since 2001, through the Cook for the Cure
Companies from Rapidly Developing Economies by Boston
program presented by KitchenAid. In addition to our support
Consulting Group.
in the United States and Canada, KitchenAid supports breast
cancer foundations in France, Germany, South Africa, Greece
ASIA Received the HR Excellence Award at Amity
and Israel.
International Business School’s Global Human Resource
Summit.
Received the Catalyst Award for design from the Industrial
Designers Society of America (IDSA) and Business Week
Awarded a Certificate of Excellence from the India Engineering
magazine for the Whirlpool brand Duet fabric care system.
Export Promotion Council.
The Whirlpool Duet Sport fabric care system, KitchenAid
Named to the Trustworthy Enterprise List by the General
Architect II Series microwave hood combination oven and
Administration of Customs for our facility in Shunde, China.
Maytag ICE2O refrigerator received design awards from the
Won a Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Gold Award in
Chicago Athenaeum of Architecture and Design.
refrigeration in India.
Received the 2007 ENERGY STAR® Sustained Excellence /
Sponsored the week-long 2006 Jimmy Carter Work Project in
Partner of the Year Award from the U.S. Department of Energy
India, during which approximately 20 Whirlpool employees
and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; our eighth win,
joined 2,000 other volunteers to help build 100 homes in a
a feat unmatched by any other home appliance manufacturer.
village near Mumbai.
Whirlpool brand Duet washer and pedestal became the first
certified as user-friendly by the Arthritis Foundation.
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2. Worldwide Operations
NORTH AMERICA OPERATING REVIEW
In 2006, we continued our cadence of innovation. In addition
Whirlpool North America reported revenues of $12.0 billion
to a record number of new products, more than 60 percent of all
in 2006, up 34 percent from 2005, while operating in an
products sold in North America in 2006 were introduced new to
environment of rising raw material costs and decreased U.S.
the marketplace. The Whirlpool brand completed the largest new
appliance industry demand in the second half of the year. We
product launch in our company’s history with the introduction
achieved record sales in Mexico, one of the world’s fastest
of an entirely new line of laundry products. In refrigeration,
growing markets, and strong sales in Canada. And, we are well
we launched the industry’s first French door bottom-freezer
on our way to fully integrating the Maytag business following a
refrigerators with an ice and water dispenser on the door and
successful acquisition that created efficiencies and growth
42-inch built-in French door bottom-freezer refrigerator.
opportunities.
As a result of the Maytag acquisition, we now have an expanded
We continue to enhance our North American operating platform.
portfolio of powerful brands that can reach any consumer
In the United States, we consolidated laundry operations to
segment. All of our major U.S. brands are among Home
improve efficiencies and productivity, and we expanded our
Furnishing News (HFN) magazine’s top 100 preferred home
manufacturing capacity for the growing bottom-freezer
furnishing brands, with three — KitchenAid, Whirlpool and
refrigeration segment. In Mexico, we completed new front-load
Maytag brands — in the top 12. Our innovation pipeline will
clothes-washer and side-by-side refrigerator facilities, both of
enable us to continually differentiate our brands to meet ever-
which have improved production capabilities that will help solidify
changing consumer needs.
our leadership position in the North American business.
OUTLOOK: In 2007, we expect to increase sales in North
During the year, we also improved our ability to better and more
America, although we anticipate that the industry will be down
quickly make products available to our trade customers as we
2 to 3 percent for the year. We look forward to further revitalizing
began to implement our new distribution strategy. This will
the Maytag brand and re-establishing the heritage of durability
enhance our already strong relationships with our trade
and dependability for which it is known. And lastly, Whirlpool
customers, which were acknowledged this year with top
North America expects to continue to deliver more innovative
supplier awards by three of our largest trade customers.
products and services to continually meet the needs of North
American consumers.
W. Timothy Yaggi
KitchenAid Architect Series II
A new generation of KitchenAid’s
Executive Vice President
premium, flagship appliance line
Market Operations
with enhancements inspired by
Whirlpool North America
cooks, culinary professionals and
design experts.
Maytag Ice2O Refrigerator
The first French door bottom-freezer
refrigerator with ice and water on
the door.
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3. EUROPE OPERATING REVIEW
We support our innovative products and leading brands
Whirlpool Europe delivered record revenue of $3.4 billion in
through our manufacturing footprint, which we continued to
2006, up 7 percent from 2005. Our overall operating profit
refine this year, including nearly doubling the capacity of our
increased 23 percent over 2005, bolstered by innovation
cooking facility in Poland. We also made improvements to
in cooking and built-in products, as well as our continued
our product quality through systematic progress in our quality
expansion of the Whirlpool brand in two key emerging
processes and the introduction of design-to-quality new
markets – Turkey and Russia.
product platforms.
Whirlpool Europe continued to meet the needs of our
Whirlpool Europe further strengthened its leading position
consumers with innovative products. We launched a six-
in the growing built-in market through an either exclusive or
kilogram (13 pound) Bauknecht washing machine with a
Hygiene+ cycle, which heats laundry to 80 degrees Celsius primary trade customer relationship with the three largest
built-in appliance retailers in Europe. We improved our overall
(176 degrees Fahrenheit), destroying bacteria and removing
supply chain abilities through an industry-leading build-to-
allergens. The Whirlpool brand improved upon its popular
order system that produces only upon order, enabling us to
front-loading DreamSpace washing machine, increasing its
better serve our customers without holding inventory.
capacity to enable it to complete nine kilograms (20 pounds)
of laundry in a single load. And, the Bauknecht brand
OUTLOOK: In 2007, Whirlpool Europe expects a strong
launched two new built-in appliance lines – Pure and Design
year with solid sales growth, fueled by the continued launch
– which integrate several different global design trends, offer
of innovative products and services. We will continue the
scratch-resistant surfaces and an intelligent system control
growth of our built-in appliance business and expansion of
with text display that provides perfect cooking results.
our Whirlpool brand offerings. In addition, we anticipate the
successful ramp-up of the KitchenAid brand launch. Finally,
We also began preparing for the 2007 European launch of
we look forward to cost savings from ongoing productivity
the high-end KitchenAid brand. The European version of this
gains that will also contribute to performance improvements.
premier brand will feature the distinctive KitchenAid design
along with cutting-edge technology.
Bauknecht Hygiene+ Washer Marc Bitzer
The Hygiene cycle heats laundry
Executive Vice President
to a temperature of 80 degrees
and President
Celsius (176 degrees Fahrenheit) for
Whirlpool Europe
10 minutes, destroying bacteria and
removing allergens.
Whirlpool Built-In Ovens
Built-in ovens with new styling and
6th Sense technology offer a range
of pre-set recipes to help consumers
easily express their culinary
creativity.
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4. Worldwide Operations
LATIN AMERICA OPERATING REVIEW
We also strengthened and broadened relationships with our
Whirlpool Latin America reported regional revenue of $2.4
trade customers to create a more collaborative environment
billion in 2006, up 24 percent from the previous year. During
from key accounts to small customers. For example, we
the year, we strengthened our leadership position in the
implemented joint business plans and knowledge exchange
region, particularly in Brazil, Argentina and Chile.
programs, such as six sigma training, with some of our trade
customers. In addition, we are helping our trade customers
Consumer loyalty to both the Brastemp and Consul brands
understand the value of social responsibility. Our three-year
has increased consistently over the past four years. A
sponsorship of the Retail Social Responsibility Program
recent study by a leading Brazilian newspaper found that
organized by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation, a leading
Brastemp has the highest brand recognition among high-
Brazilian business school, helps trade customers understand
end consumers across all industries. Consul has been top-
how to differentiate themselves in the marketplace by being
of-mind with consumers in the refrigeration category for 16
good corporate citizens.
consecutive years and is the appliance brand with the highest
penetration in Brazil.
Finally, our Brazilian-based compressor operation, Embraco,
maintained its global market and technological leadership
Innovation continues to sustain and drive our brands’
positions. We opened a new facility in China, with a new
competitiveness in the region. In 2006, we launched nearly
global product platform that doubles the production capacity
one new product per week, delivering innovative products to
of our existing facilities. In 2006, Embraco received the
a broad segment of consumers. Some examples include the
Foreign Trade Highlight Award and was recognized by the
expansion of the 6th Sense line of products, a refrigerator
Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign
with a pure-water dispenser, a line of gas-on-glass cooktops
Trade for its social responsibility efforts in developing a new
in assorted colors to serve middle-end consumers and the
carbon-dioxide compressor, which significantly reduces power
Brastemp Gourmand line.
consumption and uses carbon gas as a natural refrigerant.
Comprehensive cost-management processes delivered
OUTLOOK: In 2007, Whirlpool Latin America will continue to
strong value for the region. Our lean manufacturing program
build strength in the key countries in the region. We anticipate
has driven double-digit annual productivity gains through
continued sales growth based on increased demand, strong
significant improvements in product quality, cost and delivery
brands and innovative product launches. Leveraging our cost
and strengthened relationships with suppliers. The opening
and quality position, these activities will contribute to another
of a new technology center in Rio Claro, Brazil, is intended to
year of improved profitability.
enhance Whirlpool Corporation’s worldwide competitiveness
by capitalizing on global platforms and maximizing
engineering resources.
Paulo F.M.O. Periquito
Brastemp Gourmand Line
Designed for the amateur gourmet,
Executive Vice President
the line includes a refrigerator
and President
with a wine rack, and a 40-bottle
Whirlpool Latin America
wine cooler with shock absorbers
and a range with an electric
multifunctional oven.
Brastemp Cooktops
The Brastemp brand launched
new cooktops in emotionally
appealing colors, such as black,
blue, green and red.
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5. ASIA OPERATING REVIEW
Our ability to meet the demand for continual innovative
Whirlpool Asia delivered revenues of $457 million in 2006, up
product development increased this year with the expansion
8 percent from the year before. The successful execution of
of our technology center in Shenzhen, China. Whirlpool Asia
our strategy improved our performance in India, China,
now has the capabilities to achieve increased innovation and
Hong Kong, Taiwan and throughout Southeast Asia.
synergies across microwave, food-preparation, air-treatment
and other product groups.
We reclaimed the leadership position in the key direct
cool refrigeration segment in India this year by continually
Finally, we saw significant growth in the amount of business
delivering innovative products – such as pedestals for non-
conducted with key trade customers in China and India.
perishable foods, LED lighting and improved cooling retention.
Our focus is to foster long-term relationships with all of our
We also continued to solidify our position in China. In the
trade customers by developing new strategies that allow
first quarter we launched a top-load washing machine with
us to better align with them and further improve both of
new aesthetics, which supported the brand and category
our businesses. For example, we are providing account
positioning, and further enhanced our product portfolio in the
management tools, new to the Asia market, and beginning to
highly competitive Chinese appliance business. In Australia,
prepare joint business plans with key trade customers.
we launched 40 new cooking and dishwasher products,
significantly improving our presence in these categories and
OUTLOOK: In 2007, Whirlpool Asia looks to a year of
further enhancing our innovative image in that country.
continued strong revenue growth. We expect strong growth in
our domestic business, fueled by our new products. We will
In 2006, we also launched our first-ever pan-Asia product
leverage our cost and quality position in our export business.
– a new Whirlpool brand horizontal axis washer. Driven by
We also anticipate profit improvement in 2007, resulting from
consumer insights, the washer’s features include increased
our improved management of product mix and margins.
capacity, improved energy efficiency, and an intelligent system
that cleans and cares for consumers’ washing needs.
Mark Hu Fusion Direct Cool Refrigerator
Whirlpool India refrigerator with 6th
Executive Vice President Sense “frost control” provides more
and President than 17 hours of cooling retention
Whirlpool Asia during power outages, compared
to other refrigerators that offer
only six hours.
Australian Cooking and Dishwasher
Whirlpool Australia launched
40 new cooking and dishwashing
products.
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